The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-02-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 2sth, 1886.

w ASHlNGTON, Jatls ZSbu, lCoOs
The forty-ninth congress will pass
out of existence with a good record,
Notwithstanding what its critics said
last session. 1t may not produce new
taJiff act or stop the silver scoinage at
its present rate, but it has provided
against an interregnum in the presiden-
tial succession, it has settled the electo-
raj count controversy, and it has put
into the hands of the president an act
for the regulation of inter state COM
merce, for which the people of certain
sections have been calling in vain for
years. 1t has also attended to some
pressing needs in dozen other direc-
tiOns, whatever may have been its gen.
eral conduct.
During the present week the senate
has voted against woman suffrage, vot-
ed against the:confirmation of Recorder
of Deeds Matthews, voted for closing
the ports of the United States against
Canadian imports, in retaliation for
England's violation of treaty obligation
with regard to fisheries, and it is now
| debating the question of agricultural
experiment stations. The house is plod-
ding over prosy appropriation bills.
Senator Hoar created mild sensation
a few mornings since by proposing a
new rule. He is outraged at the irrev-
erence of the upper house, and he asked
that the senate shall not be called to Or
der nor the chaplain's prayer proceed at
any time until a quorum be present,
He said it was ridiculous and disgrace
iul spectacle, the daily delivery of the
invocation in the presence of only three
or four senators. If religious exercises
were to be continued they should be
decorous. If his proposition should car.
ry in both houses it would greatly dis
turb habits of long standing, and per-
haps lead to an abolition OF the chap.
lain's office altogether.
For nineteen years the National Wo.
mans Rights Association has held its
sessions in Washington. For nineteer
successive years the prominent advo
Gates of woman suffrage have here Sc
forth their grievances, challenged ant
condemned their oppressors, cherished
their faith and renewed their vows. Fol
nineteen years Miss Anthony, Mrs
Sattuck, Mrs. Stanton, Mrs. Hooker
Mrs. Howell, Mrs. Wallace, Mrs. Har
bert, Mrs. Stake, Mrs. Sewell, Mis-
Cousins and others have appealed t.
congress for the ballot, have pressed tn
matter to a. vote, have hung over tn,
galleries of the house and senate in ear
nest anticipation; and they have re.
peatedly seen one house or the othe
vote down their cause as they saw tn
senate vote it down yesterday.
, The fact that sixteen senators Of tn
fifty-one then present in the senat
chamber voted in their favor, while they
counted on the friendship Of clever
more who were absent, is considered
great triumph. Miss Anthony feel
that the labors Of lifetime are nov
bearing appreciate fruit. She realize
f that twenty years ago her proposes
| constitutional amendment would .hav
been hooted,out of the senate with de
rision. Ten years ago it would not hav
Jared much better, and five years ag
f she could not have counted upon tn
approving votes of sixteen senators.
a friend of woman suffrage said t.
Miss Anthony: "The trouble with you
: cause is that it lacks political vitality
A Senators come ard 60 and representa-
t tives still more frequently without re
/ gard to the merits or dement's Of tn
r principle of woman suffrage. Could tn
t question involved become a direct issu
| before the people, and the election o
: senators and members be made to tur
on it the result might be different. n
one is sent to congress as a woman
suifragist' continued he, "All of then
j, come uninstructed in the matter eXeep
t by their own prejudices, and so the,
vote"
Miss Anthony read in convention tn
5 names of those senators who voted 70
her bill, calling it the "roll OF homo
f from the senate wing of the capitol
and then the names of those opposed
The audience applauded when she re
marked that the new senator, Mr.. Far
well, who occupies Gen. Logan's form
er seat, cast his first vote in the senat
: for woman.
1t was decided to s'spot' those sena
tors who had put themselves on recor,
d againet this bill for woman, and Mis-
Anthony remarked that if Senator in
gals should be reelected from Kansa
: it would be because the women of Kan
:, sas were powerless to defeat him. H
! would find a party among his constitu
/ ents that he had not counted.